Premier 15s returns with heavy North American presence

The Premier 15s returns after a two-month break with a full slate of five games on Saturday. There are two rounds remaining the regular season and four teams are jostling for three playoff spots still to be determined. Wasps are on the outside looking in, 5 points back of 4th-place Harlequins.

Quins will have USA lock Jenny Kronish among the reserves against Bristol. Maya Learned switches from her usual prop position to start in the second row for Gloucester-Hartpury against Wasps.

There are three Eagles starting for Sale against Durham Sharks. Catie Benson and Nick James are the props with Katana Howard at inside center. US-eligible flanker Georgie Perris-Redding, who is vying for a spot at the World Cup, is named as a replacement.

Loughborough also have three Eagles to face Worcester. Charli Jacoby starts at tighthead prop, Hallie Taufo’ou on the blindside flank, and Bulou Mataitoga at fullback. Canada supplies starting lock Courtney Holtkamp and two reserves, second row Abby Duguid and flanker Sara Svoboda. Canadian winger Paige Farries starts for the Warriors.

Saracens have already clinched the top spot and will take on 3rd-place Exeter at Sandy Park with five North Americans in their lineup. Canadian trio Alex Ellis, Mackenzie Carson, and Alysha Corrigan start at tighthead prop, number eight, and right wing respectively. The USA supplies inside center Alev Kelter and reserve scrumhalf Carly Waters. Captain Lotte Clapp, who starts on the left wing, has made the switch from England to the USA for the upcoming World Cup.

Kelter will be head-to-head with fellow Eagles standout Gabby Cantorna. The Chiefs also feature USA prop Hope Rogers, back rows Rachel Johnson and Kate Zackary, and winger Jennine Detiveaux. Canadians in the lineup include front rowers Emily Tuttosi and DaLeaka Menin, and second row McKinley Hunt.

Kickoff is set for 12:30pm local time, 7:30am Eastern, 4:30am Pacific. The match will be streamed live on the Premier 15s website. Free registration is required to view.

EXETER CHIEFS
1 Hope Rogers, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 McKinley Hunt, 5 Linde van der Velden, 6 Poppy Leitch (co-capt.), 7 Rachel Johnson, 8 Kate Zackary (co-capt.), 9 Flo Robinson, 10 Patricia García, 11 Jennine Detiveaux, 12 Gabby Cantorna, 13 Kanako Kobayashi, 14 Eilidh Sinclair, 15 Merryn Doidge

Replacements: 16 Clara Nielson, 17 Michaella Roberts, 18 Laura Delgado, 19 Nichola Fryday, 20 Ebony Jefferies, 21 Brooke Bradley, 22 Nancy McGillivraym 23 Niamh Terry

SARACENS
1 Hannah Botterman, 2 May Campbell, 3 Alex Ellis, 4 Fiona McIntosh, 5 Catha Jacobs, 6 Jodie Rettie, 7 Vicky Fleetwood, 8 Mackenzie Carson, 9 Ella Wyrwas, 10 Holly Aitchison, 11 Lotte Clapp (capt.), 12 Alev Kelter, 13 Hannah Casey, 14 Alysha Corrigan, 15 Sarah McKenna

Replacements: 16 Kat Evans, 17 Jodie Turl, 18 Kelsey Clifford, 19 Sophie Tansley, 20 Sonia Green, 21 Carly Waters, 22 Cara Wardle, 23 Coreen Grant